Automobile signaling apparatus



NOV. 17, 1931. A, L WEIS AUTOMOBILE SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed June 29,1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 17, 1931. s A. L. wElS AUTOMOBILE SIGNALINGAPPARATUS Filed June 29, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 17', 1931. A A. L.WEls 1,832,675

AUTOMOBILE SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed June 29, 1929 3 Sheets-5heet- 5Patented Nov. 17, 1931 IUNITED STATES ANDREW L. WEIS, F FORT LAUDERDALE,FLORIDA AUTOMOBILE SIGNALING APPARATUS Application filed .Tune- *29,

This application is subordinate to prior application Serial No. 364,352,new Patent No. 1,772,375, granted August 5, 1930, and is prior to anddominates latent No. 1,772,-

5376, granted to me August 5, 1930.

This invention relates to automobile or motor vehicle indicators, andmore especially those for indicating the direction in which the motorvehicle is going to turn, either t-o if, `vthe right or the left.

In addition, the invention relates to signals of this kind which arealso adapted to indicate that the vehicle is going to stop.

Generally stated, the object of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved signal of this general character, located at the rear of thevehicle body, so that the signal will be displayed at the rear of thecar, but at the saine time will be under the control of the driver,whereby the intention of the latter regarding the movements of thevehicle will be indicated to the drivers of cars in the rear. A Anotherobject is to provide a rear signal 2li-lof this kind which is enclosedin thel body of the car, so that the signal will be displayed throughthe rear window of the inotor vehicle.

It is also an object to provide certain deg tails and features ofconstruction and combi- 'nations tending to increase the generaletliciency and the desirability of a motor vehicle signaling apparatusof this particular character. y Y l To the foregoing and other usefulends, the

3" `invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth and claimed,and shown in theV accompanying drawings, in which-e Fig. l is a sideelevation of a motor vehicle equipped with signaling apparatuseinbodying the principles of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged rear elevation of the said motor vehicle.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged inside elevation of the rear signal of saidvehicle, showing certain 1929. serial No. 374,838.

portions ofthe construction in vertical section, for `convenience ofillustration.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line %4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail vertical section on line 5-5 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged inside elevation of the front or forwardcontrolling means for said signaling device, showing certain portions invertical section, for convenience of ,i illustration.

Fig. 7 isanenlarged side elevation of a portion of the constructionshown in Fig. 6, on line 7- 7 in Fig. 6.

, 8 is an enlarged detail horizontal section on line 8-8 in 6.

Fig. 9 is anenlarged detail horizontal section on line 9-9 in Fig. 6.

As thus illustrated, the signaling devices to be oisplayed to inotorvehicles traveling in rear of the motor vehicle shown in the drawings,include a vsheet-metal casing l rigidly secured within the car at oneside of the rear window 2 of the vehicle. The three semaphores orsignals 3, 4 and 5 are mounted in this casing and supported on theppivot6, shown, each semaphore having a coiled spring 7 on said pivot toyieldingly hold the semaphore normally in vertical position. Wires 8lead to the different seinaphores, 7, through a tube 9 at one side ofthe casing l, and a pull on any wire will raise its allotted semaphoreto horizontal position, so that such semaphore will be visible throughthe rear window of. the car, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

An electric lamp device l0 is disposed iinincdiately above thehorizont-al position of the semaphores, and in such position that thelight from the lamp will be thrown on the rearwardly facing surface ofthe semaphore when the latter is raised to horizontal position. rlhelamp can receive its current from any suitable source of power, such asthe usual storage battery on motor vehicles.

Each semaphore is adapted to automatically close the circuit throughsaid lamp by engagement ot its heel portion 11 with the spring 12, thuspressinfaT this spring,` against the contact 13 which is connected withthe cord or connection 14C running` to the lamp,.

)nils 1G 17 and 18 mounted on the vertical.

n j u u portion 19 o'l" said tube, the ,latter having slots :2O throughwhich the portions 21 of said handles extend in order to aliordconnection with their allotted wires. Each slot has an enlarged portionQ2 at the lower end thereot to receive the portion 21 ot one of thehandles or pulls, thereby to trictionally retain the handle or pull inits depressed position, thus holding the allotted semaphore in itsraised position. A slight upward pressure on one of the handles or pullswill allow the raised semaphore to swing down by gravity and restoreitself to normal or concealed position.

The vertical portion 19 of the tube is preterably supported by a bracket23 which is adjustable on the fixed bracket 2l, the latter being securedby screws 2` to the structure ot the vehicle. By reason of the screw andslot connection 26, the bracket can he adjusted or moved about avertical artis, and held in such adjusted position, thereby to hold thetube portion 19 in convenient position for t-he operation oiE thehandles or pulls by the driver, the controls thus provi ded be ingrmounted preferably immed iately in front of the steering` wheel, on thetop structure ot' a vehicle. By loosening the bolt 27, the bracket 23.,which is in the nat-ure of a clamp, will either grip or release the tubeportion 19, for the purpose oi satisfactory adnistment ot thecontrolling; instrumentalities thus provided in front of the driver.

ln operation, it the driver is intending' to turn to the lett, he willpull the proper handle or pull on the tube portion 19, d thus raise theproper semaphore into position to be displayed through the rear windowof the car. lt he is intending to turn to the right, he will pullanother button or handle or pull and raise another semaphore.Similarlyfit he intending' to stop. he will pull. the third button orhandle and display the semaphore which has the word Stop thereon. @n theri g'ht and lett sem right and left arrows can be provided serve as themeans tor indicating` which way the car going to turn.

t will be seen that the bracket 24: is

preterahly mounted directly over the windshield 28 ot the vehicle, atthe left-hand side, directly in 'front oit the steering wheel, wherebythe buttons or handles or pulls 1G, 17 and 18 are in position to beconveniently operated by the driver.

lVhat I claim as my invention is:

1. ln motor vehicle signalingapparatus, the combination of signalingmechanism having a plurality of signals and normally concealed fromvieiv at the rear of the ear, with a horizontally movable operating`connection for the upper end of each signal, and instrumentalitieswithin reach of the driver tor controlling, said signaling means, saidintruinentalities comprising.,- avertically .posed tubular guide, aplurality of hann'iovahle up and down on said guide, means toal'ljustably support only the upper end ot said guide, leaving its lowerend free. each hfindle beine' mechanically connected vsith thehorizontally movable operating` mnneetion oli said signaling means, andeach handle being; allotted to one of said signals.

E2. fr st' ire as specihed in claim 1, said sienalinp; mechanismcomprising a plurality ot pirotefl seinaphores, a casingfor saidsemaphores, each semaphore forming); one ot said signals. and eachsemaphore having` a normally concealed position in said casingl and ahorizontal signaling position, and means for mounting; said casina` inposition whereby it and the semaphores when concealed therein areinvisible Jfrom the rear.

3. il. structure as speci tied in claim 1. said signaling; mechanismbeine mounted within the top portion oit a closed car, at one side otthe rear window thereof', in position to display the said signalsthrough the rea window ot the car, whereby the window is unobstructed bvsaid signaling mechanism when the signals are all in normal position.

4t. A structure as speeiied in claim 1. said controllinginstrumentalities beingconnected by a tube ertendine; therefromrearwardly to said signaling); mechanism. with a plurality of wires insaid tube, and said sianaling' mechanism comprising a pi voted semaphoreallotted to the rear end of each wire. the forward end of each wirebeing; secured to one ot said handles.

i il structure as specilied in claim 1. comprisinr; electric.illuminating' means for said si. .rnaliimF means. associated therewith.and devices whereby said illuminating' means are operative automaticallyby the display ot any one of said signals.

G. In motor vehicle signaling apparatus. the combination ot movablevisual signalina' means comprising; a plurality ot normally verticalsignals mounted inside of a closed ear. at one side of the rear windowthereof. whereby said window is inohstrneted by said means when thelatter is in normal position,

adapted by rising motion of each signal into a more or less horizontalposition to display the signal through the rear Window of the car, eachsignal adapted for projection from one side of the Window toward theother side thereof, and controlling instrumentalities to selectivelyoperate said signals, said signals forming a unitary device fastened asan attachment to the inside of the car at the side of the Window so thatnormally said device is in sight inside the car but not from the rearthrough said Window.

7. A structure as specified in claim 6, said signaling means comprisinga plurality of semaphores normally in concealed position, each semaphorehaving a visible position through said Window.

8. A structure Vas specified in claim 6, one

signal indicating that the vehicle Willturn to the right, another signalindicating that the vehicle Will turn to the left. y 9. A structure asspeciied in claim 6, one signal indicating that the vehicle'vvill turnto the right, another signal indicating that the vehicle Will turn tothe left, and a third signal indicating that the car Will stop.

10. In automobile signaling apparatus, the combination of a tubedisposed in front of the driver, an adjustable bracket supporting saidtube, said tube having an upper portion leading rearwardly to the rearof the vehicle, wires in said tube, handles disposed in verticalalinement and' slidable up and down on said vertical portions of thetube for operating said Wires, and signaling apparatus responsive to theoperation of said handles and Wires.

11. A structure as speciiied in claim 10, having means for mounting saidbracket directly over the Windshield of the car, in front of thesteering Wheel.

12. A structure as specified in claim 10. said bracket being adjustableabout a vertical axis to position the vertical portion of said tube.

13. In signaling apparatus for automobiles, the combination of visualsignaling means and a controller for controlling said signaling means,together with connecting said controller With said signaling means, saidcontroller having a support therefor in front of the driver, and saidsupport having adjusting means whereby the controller as a Whole ismovable into diii'erent positions toward and away from the driver tosuit the convenience of the driver, and means for retaining the supportin any adjusted position of the controller toward or away from thedriver.

141-. A structure as specified in claim 13, said adjusting meanscomprising a bracket arm in which the controller is adjustable up anddown.

15. A structure as specified in claim 13,

f said adjusting means comprising a bracket arm Which is adjustableabout a vertically disposed axis to move the controller laterally.

16. A structure as specified in claim 13, said controller comprising aslotted tube disposed vertically, handles slidable on said s1oti '0 tedtube, said handles connected With said i Wires. Y

17. A structure as specified in claim 13, said controller comprising aplurality of handies, each movable back and forth on a straight line. l

Specification signed this 211 day of June, 1929.

ANDREW L. WEIS.

